Week 17 Sleepers and Start’ems for 2013

Week 17 Playoff Sleepers and Start’ems for 2013

Happy Holidays to you and your family! I hope everyone has a happy and safe New Year. With everything on the line, this is the week to make sure all the right pieces are in their correct places! Tons of big name, reliable players simply forgot that they are paid to play football and produce productive numbers. Can you believe that we’re already this far? Can you believe that the season flew by that fast? Just one week left in our fantasy season and then its a waiting game filled with off-season antics and arrests!

With the trade deadlines long gone, teams are now forced to build through waivers which isn’t such a bad thing. The time is upon us to strengthen our benches and prepare for the worst. Nobody can predict the unpredictable and injuries can happen at any second of any game. Solidifying your bench is a must at this point in the game!

WEEK 17 SLEEPERS and START’ems for 2013!

Quarterbacks

Nick Foles Phi vs Dal - Nick is my MUST START QB of the Week! Foles has thrown 25 touchdowns against 2 interceptions and rushed for 3 more scores. The Cowboys are giving up the 2nd-most standard Fantasy points (24.9 per game) to opposing quarterbacks. QBs have accounted for 10 touchdowns and 2 turnovers against Dallas the past 3 weeks.

Jay Cutler Chi @ GB - The Packers have allowed 3 of their past 4 opposing quarterbacks to score at least 22 standard Fantasy points with all 4 of those passers throwing multiple touchdowns over that span. And in Week 9, Josh McCown started for the injured Cutler and had 272 passing yards and 2 touchdowns at Lambeau Field. Cutler is coming off a down game in Week 16 at Philadelphia with 222 passing yards, 1 touchdown and 1 interception. He also has a terrible history against the Packers with 5 touchdowns and 10 interceptions in his past 5 meetings, with only 1 game with more than 225 passing yards over that span.

Andrew Luck Indy vs Jac - Luck has a good history against the Jaguars with multiple touchdowns in all 3 previous meetings and at least 18 Fantasy points in each game. In Week 4 at Jacksonville, Luck had 257 passing yards, 2 touchdowns and 1 interception and 2 carries for 26 yards. The Colts are still alive for either the No. 2 or 3 seed in the AFC, so this game is important, meaning Luck should go all out. And the Jaguars have allowed 9 quarterbacks to score at least 20 standard Fantasy points this season, which bodes well for Luck’s fortunes this week.

Andy Dalton Cin vs Balt - Dalton has scored at least 23 standard Fantasy points in each of the past 3 games with 9 touchdowns and 0 interceptions over that 3 game span. The Bengals and Ravens have a lot on the line in this matchup with Cincinnati fighting for the No. 2 seed in the AFC, and Baltimore clinging to the final wild card spot. We like Dalton’s chances in this matchup. The Ravens have allowed a quarterback to score at least 22 standard Fantasy points in 2 of the past 4 games, and it likely would have been three if Brady passed more than 26 times in Week 16. Dalton is averaging 255 passing yards in 7 home games with 18 touchdowns and 5 interceptions over that span.

Tom Brady NE vs Buf - Brady has at least 2 touchdowns in each of his past 5 meetings with the Bills, and he’s passed for at least 285 yards in 4 of those outings. In his past 3 games at home, Brady is averaging 398 passing yards with 9 touchdowns and 1 interception. Buffalo has allowed 5 of 7 quarterbacks to pass for at least 2 touchdowns on the road this season, including Geno Smith, Mike Glennon and Chad Henne. Also, in Brady’s last 3 regular-season finales, he is averaging 274 passing yards with 7 touchdowns and just 1 interception.

Eddie Lacy GB vs Chi - Eddie is my MUST START RB of the Week! Lacy scored twice and rushed for 84 yards on 15 carries in a Week 16 loss to Pittsburgh. He rushed for a career-high 150 yards and a touchdown on 22 carries in his previous meeting against Chicago in Week 9. Although Aaron Rodgers will be returning from a collarbone injury, the Packers should still rely on the run. The Bears have allowed a league-worst 161.5 yards per game on the ground this season including 100-plus yards to each of the last 5 opposing running backs.

Andre Brown NYG vs Wash - Brown is on track to play despite suffering a concussion in Week 16 at Detroit. Brown’s last good game was Week 13 at Washington when he had 17 Fantasy points on 14 carries for 35 yards and 2 touchdowns and 3 catches for 23 yards. The Redskins have allowed a running back to reach double digits in standard Fantasy points in 4 games in a row with 9 total touchdowns over that span. For the season, Washington has allowed 23 touchdowns to opposing running backs and 14 have reached double digits in standard Fantasy points. This should be a good game for Brown to end his season on a high note.

DeAngelo Williams Car @ ATL- Since Jonathan Stewart(knee) went down in Week 14 we’ve seen Williams take over. He has 34 Fantasy points in his past 2 games against the Jets and New Orleans with a touchdown in each game. This is the 2nd year in a row Williams is closing the season strong since he scored at least 11 Fantasy points in three of his final 4 games in 2012. Williams struggled against the Falcons in Week 9 with 13 carries for 42 yards and 2 catches for 12 yards when Stewart was active, but he scored in the 3 previous meetings with Atlanta. And the Falcons have allowed a running back to score a touchdown or rush for 90 yards in 9 games in a row.

Rashad Jennings Oak vs Den - Jennings had a down game in Week 16 at San Diego with just 6 standard Fantasy points, and he lost a touchdown to Darren McFadden. But prior to that, he had at least 9 standard Fantasy points in 5 of his previous 6 games, with 6 touchdowns over that span. There have been 12 running backs to score double digits in standard Fantasy points against Denver this season, including McFadden in Week 2 when he ran for a touchdown and passed for another. The Broncos have allowed 19 touchdowns to running backs, and Jennings could easily score as long as McFadden doesn’t get in the way. Continue to start Jennings as at least a No. 2 Fantasy running back this week.

Julian Edelman NE vs Buf – Julian is my MUST START WR of the Week! Edelman looked like he was going to be a star in Week 1 at Buffalo when he had 7 catches for 79 yards and 2 touchdowns. He tailed off after that, but he re-emerged in Week 12 against Denver and hasn’t gone away since with double digits in standard Fantasy points in 4 of his past 5 games. The Bills have allowed 18 touchdowns to opposing receivers and 14 to reach double digits in standard Fantasy points. Edelman also has 3 touchdowns in his past 2 home games, and we expect the Patriots to finish strong as they look to head into the playoffs playing at a high level, especially with their passing game.

Riley Cooper Phi @ Dal - Cooper was the lone bright spot in the passing game for the Eagles in the first meeting with Dallas in Week 7 when he had 6 catches for 88 yards. Since then, the Cowboys have allowed 9 receivers to reach double digits in Fantasy points with 9 touchdowns. Cooper’s best games have come on the road this season at Tampa Bay in Week 6, at Oakland in Week 9 and at Green Bay in Week 10.

James Jones, Jordy Nelson, Jarrett BoykinandRandall Cobb GB @ Chi - Jones scored three touchdowns at Chicago last year, and Nelson started the season with double digits in standard Fantasy points in 5 of his first 7 games with no less than 8 standard points in any outing. This should be a fun game to watch now that QB Aaron Rodgers is back, and the Green Bay receivers should benefit. Nelson has one touchdown and one game with 100 receiving yards in his past 7 outings, and Jones only has one touchdown without Rodgers. Rodgers has a great history against the Bears with at least 3 touchdowns in 3 of his past 4 meetings prior to this year. And in Chicago, Rodgers has 8 total touchdowns, 2 interceptions and at least 290 passing yards in his past 3 trips there. The Bears have allowed 2 of their past 3 opposing quarterbacks to score at least 22 standard Fantasy points.

Cordarrelle PattersonMin vs Det - Patterson doesn’t have a chance at Fantasy rookie of the year because of guys like Keenan Allen, Eddie Lacy, Zac Stacyand Le’Veon Bell. But his play over the past 4 games suggests he’ll be a viable Fantasy option heading into 2014 along with the rest of his classmates. Patterson has scored in each of the past 4 games with 2 receiving touchdowns and 2 rushing touchdowns. He’s showing his dynamic playmaking, and we like his opportunity against the Lions at home. Detroit has allowed 18 touchdowns to opposing receivers and 16 to reach double digits in standard Fantasy points. I also like Greg Jennings as a sleeper this week, and the Minnesota receivers should finish the season strong with Matt Cassel doing a nice job getting them the ball in recent weeks.

Marcedes Lewis Jac @ Indy - Lewis is hot heading into Week 17 with a touchdown in 4 games in a row and for that he is my MUST START TE of the Week! Over the past 3 games, Lewis is tied with Jimmy Graham and Tony Gonzalezwith the most Fantasy points at tight end with 32. That’s special company, and Fantasy owners looking for a home run play at tight end should buy into Lewis. He has at least 6 targets in the past 2 games, which coincides with Cecil Shorts(groin) being out. And the Jaguars will likely be chasing points against the Colts. Indianapolis has only allowed 3 touchdowns to tight ends this season, but Lewis is everything you can ask for in a sleeper tight end in Week 17.

Delanie Walker Ten vs HOU - Walker struggled in Week 16 at Jacksonville with 4 catches for 35 yards on 7 targets. He continues to be involved with at least 7 targets in the past 5 games where he’s been healthy, which is what you want to see, and the Titans should lean on him again in Week 17. Walker scored at Houston in Week 2, and the Texans have allowed a tight end to score in 3 of the past 4 games. Also, Walker has a touchdown in each of his past 4 home games.

Greg Olsen Car vs ATL – Olsen, like Cam Newton, has hit a lull of late with 9 standard Fantasy points or less in 5 consecutive games. He has one touchdown over that span, and he hit a low with 3 standard Fantasy points last week against New Orleans. With Steve Smith out, Newton should lean on Olsen even more, and he did well against the Falcons in Week 9 with 4 catches for 66 yards and a touchdown. The great news is Olsen has scored a touchdown in each of the past four meetings with Atlanta, and the Falcons have allowed a tight end to score in 3 of their past 5 games.

ATTENTION TEAM OWNERS - Make sure you stay up to date with the most wanted and needed stats, facts and info to dominate your league and its all in one place at FFLockerRoom.com also on the go with Twitter@FFLockerRoom. You can also follow Jonathan at @JNardone87

Good luck and enjoy!

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Originally from sunny South Florida, I have been involved in Fantasy Football since I was just a wee-lad, going on 13 years this season. I created <a href="https://www.facebook.com/FantasyFootball101">Fantasy Football101</a> on Facebook back in August of 2010 and since then have been providing the most affordable, accurate, reliable and detailed Fantasy Football Consulting via the World Wide Web! In February of 2013, I was accepted to the Fantasy Sports Writers Association for providing detailed insight and accurate projections. I am extremely excited to be covering Wide Receivers, bringing you detailed Wide Receiver profiles, ADP and production value for your drafts as well as weekly insight on who to add, who to drop, who’s hot and who’s not!